The trial of Kwabena Adu-Boahen, former Director-General of Ghana’s National Signals Bureau (NSB), and three other co-accused has commenced, marking the beginning of legal proceedings related to an alleged fraudulent cybersecurity procurement deal. The prosecution presented its first witness, Frank Anane Dekpey, who portrayed himself as an unwitting participant in a series of large cash transactions orchestrated by the accused. Dekpey, a former taxi driver and self-described errand boy for Adu-Boahen, testified to his personal connection with all the accused, linking them through their shared affiliation with the Cedar Mountain Chapel International, a branch of the Assemblies of God Church. This seemingly innocuous connection, according to Dekpey’s testimony, masked a complex web of financial dealings that lay at the heart of the alleged GH¢49.1 million theft.
Dekpey’s testimony focused primarily on his role as a courier in numerous financial transactions directed by Mildred Donkor, the third accused person. His detailed account revealed a pattern of collecting, depositing, and withdrawing substantial sums of money from various bank branches. He specifically mentioned the Labone branch of UMB bank and the airport branch of Stanbic Bank as locations where he routinely carried out transactions under Donkor’s instructions. The witness stated that the ultimate destination of the withdrawn cash was often Adu-Boahen’s office, situated near Metro TV in Labone. Significantly, Dekpey maintained that despite handling large sums, he remained oblivious to the exact amounts involved, suggesting a deliberate effort to shield him from the full scope of the transactions. This claim of ignorance, however, will likely be scrutinized during cross-examination.
A recurring theme in Dekpey’s testimony was the clandestine nature of the transactions. He explained that the cheques provided by Donkor were consistently sealed in envelopes, and he was directed to specific bank officials who facilitated the transactions. This suggests a pre-arranged system designed to bypass standard banking procedures and potentially avoid scrutiny. Furthermore, Dekpey’s use of large ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags to transport the cash underscores the significant volume of money involved and raises questions about the lack of proper accounting and documentation for such substantial sums. The prosecution will likely seek to establish a link between these cash movements and the alleged cybersecurity procurement fraud.
The witness also clarified his interactions with the other accused. While frequently delivering cash to Adu-Boahen’s office, he denied ever delivering money to Angela Adjei-Boateng, Adu-Boahen’s wife and the second accused person. This distinction in his interactions with the accused could be a crucial point in the trial, potentially impacting the prosecution’s ability to establish a direct link between Adjei-Boateng and the alleged financial impropriety. However, the prosecution may have other evidence connecting Adjei-Boateng to the scheme, which they will likely present later in the trial.
Dekpey’s account painted a vivid picture of the alleged scheme. He portrayed himself as a conduit in a system designed to move large amounts of cash discreetly. His lack of knowledge regarding the exact sums involved, coupled with the pre-arranged nature of the bank transactions and the use of cash rather than more traceable methods like bank transfers, all point to a potentially deliberate effort to obscure the origin and purpose of the funds. The prosecution’s strategy appears to be building a case by establishing a pattern of suspicious financial activity, implicating Adu-Boahen through Dekpey’s delivery of cash to his office.
The charges against Adu-Boahen, his wife, Donkor, and Advantage Solutions Limited are serious, ranging from conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing to using public office for profit, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. The trial, expected to continue with the cross-examination of Dekpey and testimonies from other prosecution witnesses, will delve deeper into the details of the alleged cybersecurity procurement deal and the roles each accused played. The defense will undoubtedly challenge Dekpey’s credibility and attempt to provide alternative explanations for the cash transactions he described. The outcome of this trial will have significant implications, not only for the accused but also for public trust in government institutions and procurement processes in Ghana.
